20121008 1115 Global Markets & Energy Related News.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares down after earnings caution sets in
SINGAPORE, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Asian stocks edged lower and other riskier assets such as commodities fell as investors remained cautious about the outlook for the global economy and corporate earnings despite better-than-expected U.S. jobs numbers at the end of last week.
"Although the U.S. unemployment figures were encouraging, this in itself is not sufficient to create momentum in the market towards one direction or another," said Cho Byung-hyun, an analyst at Tong Yang Securities in Seoul.

OIL-Oil dips as weak global economy offsets rise in US jobs
NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell in volatile trading on Friday and posted weekly losses as a fragile global economy and uncertainty about Europe's debt crisis offset support from a better-than-expected U.S. employment report.
"I don't really believe the jobs data, many oil traders don't, and there is a feeling that if prices get too high the SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) will be released before the election," said Richard Ilczyszyn, chief market strategist and founder of iitrader.com in Chicago. Ilczyszyn added that the oil market is well supplied and that the strong refined products futures market has been lifted by refinery and supply issues.

Oil losing grip on transport fuel market-report
LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The transport industry that burns over half the world's oil is wriggling free from dependence on gasoline and diesel at a rate that should alarm producers, an independent research report said on Monday.
"The oil industry can no longer rely on its monopoly of the transport market," said the Chatham House study in its principle finding.

Hedge fund bets on oil prices down 22 pct in 2 weeks
Oct 5 (Reuters) - Hedge funds and other large speculators cut their bets on higher oil prices for the second straight week in the seven days to October 2, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday.
The speculator group cut its combined net long position in U.S. crude oil futures and options traded in New  York and London by 10,222 contracts to 188,993 during the period.

U.S. CFTC-Speculators sharply increase bullish natgas bets
Oct 5 (Reuters) - Money managers, including hedge funds and commodity trading advisers sharply increased their net length in natural gas futures, options and swaps in the week to Oct. 2, data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday.
The investor group added 62,645 contracts in NYMEX natural gas futures and options, NYMEX Henry Hub Swaps, NYMEX Henry Hub Penultimate Swaps, and ICE Henry Hub Swaps, raising their net long position to 138,823.

NATURAL GAS- US nearby natgas futures end lower, deferreds higher
NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures ended lower in the front-month November contract pressured by Thursday's bearish weekly inventory report and by forecasts for mild mid-month weather that should slow demand.
"I think November pulled back today because the storage number (EIA build) came in above expectations, and the extended weather forecasts look like the back half of October will be trending mild," said Steve Mosley at SMC Advisory Services.

EURO COAL-Prices steady, market watches S.Africa strikes
LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Prompt physical coal prices were little changed on Friday after a series of trades for South African, delivered Europe and Newcastle cargoes.
Prices dipped by up to 25 cents a tonne, traders said.
"Swaps rallied and want to go higher despite coal's fundamentals remaining fairly weak but physical prices did not move," one European trader said.